VILLAGE OF EXETER

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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Exeter-Milligan School Board Debates Senior Trip

The
Exeter Milligan School board met on Thursday, May 14, 2015 with a large
audience of students present. After President Sharon Kuska welcomed the
visitors the treasurers’ report was read and approved and the minutes of the
April meeting were approved as part of the consensus agenda.

President
Kuska moved the old business agenda item to the forefront to discuss the senior
trip.

Superintendent
Paul Sheffield shared the research the board had asked him to complete
regarding the senior trips any area schools take.. He found that six of
them do take a senior trip, “The only ones that go out of state for a few days
are Sandy Creek and Bruning-Davenport and they go skiing every year.”

The
board held an intense discussion on the pros and cons of the senior trip. Board
member Jim Zeleny spoke up, “I think that’s a great idea. The only reason
I wouldn’t want to vote on doing this is because I hate to decide this for
every class. I would hope to give the students a chance to vote on what
they want to do.”

“I
think it’s a great trip and every time I have gone the kids have been
respectful and have had a great time,” explained Board Member Tim Pribyl.

Board
member Kendra Jansky agreed, “I think there are a lot of positives.”

Board
Secretary Annette Gloystein wasn’t in support of the extended trip, “I had two
(children) go on a multiple day trip and two (children) go on a one day trip
and they all had a great time.”

Zeleny
emphasized the importance of the extended trip, “It gives the kids some time to
be together and bond. It’s what they talk about when they come back for
alumni.”

Audience
member Liz Zeleny gave some input, “I think these kids have worked a long time
to do something together and to not get to go would be so disappointing.”

Board
member Zeleny noted “Something that was brought up at the last meeting I
thought was a very good comment. If we are going to go from the angle of
not letting them go more than one day then we are going to have to crack down
on everything else like FCCLA trips.”

There
was a discussion on the difference between the entertainment nature of the
senior trip versus the academic and activity nature of trips like the FCCLA
trip.

“I
am not knocking anyone, I am just worried about the schools liability.
Even if it’s fun I have concerns about the liability of the school,”
explained Kuska. “We have to build this back up so that they respect that
they have signed a commitment and they have promised that their word becomes
good again.”

Sheffield
noted he had talked to the school lawyer who confirmed the school is liable for
the students when they are on a trip like the senior trip.

The
board discussed one of the concerns with cancelling the senior trip, what to do
with the money that each class has raised. Board member Adam Erdakmp
stated, “Let’s worry about the money later – we need to decide what we are
going to do before we talk about money.”

The
board decided to bring the issue to a vote and Zeleny made a motion to keep the
senior trip. He noted that they would need to take a relook at the
guidelines if they do continue the trip. Board member Tim Pribyl seconded
the motion.

President
Kuska opened the floor for discussion.

Erdkamp
spoke, “I don’t have a problem with the trip but I think the punishment should
be more severe. I have no problem with the sponsors we have had on the
trip but if a kid wants to do something they will find a way. I am fine
with it continuing. I don’t think it matters where they go as it is a
school sanctioned trip.”

Sheffield
reminded the board that the school has a say in how long the trip will be and
how much money is available, “We will restrict where they can go and we will
have more sponsors.”

Zeleny
voiced his opinion on the punishments, “I think the handbook needs to clearly
state what will happen if students are caught violating the behavior
agreement.”

The
board called the motion to a vote with Erdkamp, Pribyl, Zeleny and Jansky
voting yes to keep the senior trip and Gloystein and Kuska voting no.

Sheffield
stated that he would have some policy changes for the board to
review at the next meeting. The board moved on to a building project
update. Sheffield reported on the fire marshals visit prompted by the
project. “The fire marshal walked into the kitchen and reviewed the
paperwork on the kitchen hood and required us to put in a new hood.”

In
addition, the elementary area will have to have sprinklers added along with the
office area but the high school will not because it has a higher fire rating to
begin with and it was also taken into account the future construction plans to
replace the high school.

Sheffield
noted that they have added a small room to handle all of the water and the gas
services into the entire building
.

In
the curricular report the board discussed a recent Strategic School
Improvement Process (SSIP) external
visit. This five member group was comprised of administrators and academic specialists from
schools that are around the same size as Exeter-Milligan. One
recommendation from the SSIP visit was to incorporate the writing curriculum
for all grades K-12.

Board
member Gloystein was present for the exit interview with the group. “They were
very very impressed with our technology. Some of the things they wanted
us to implement K-12 had to do with our reading program. We do the technology
part for our students’ future. If they are not up on technology they will
be way behind in life.”

Sheffield
remarked, “In the elementary grades they spend about 2 ½ hours in reading and
when they get to seventh grade they go down to about 47 minutes. We are
looking at adding an additional period of language and reading in seventh grade
and adding writing in the eighth grade. These were things we knew but sometimes
it’s good to hear it from someone else.”

Sheffield
explained that due to the updated technology that Exeter-Milligan employs they
were not able to do the Measurement of Academic Progress testing this fall because the testing software
hadn’t been updated enough. They were able to do the testing this spring and
hope to do it spring and fall next year to be able to see weaknesses and
address them.

Next
on the agenda was a discussion on non-certified contracts. Sheffield
informed the board that they would need to hire a new cleaning person as
Colleen Foote had tendered her resignation.

The
Board approved the 2015-16 SE NE Regional Program contract for students with
hearing loss and also approved the contract for Valerie Barnhart a Language
Arts teacher who will also be working with the Speech Team and One Act.

The
next agenda item was a resolution for participating in all hazards
mitigation planning update process. Sheffield explained this was
important to have, “just in case you ever want to use FEMA funds. We
would have to be a part of this process in order to get funding. It helps
you have a plan in place when things happen like the tornado that went through
Cordova and Beaver Crossing last year.”

The
board approved the resolution and then discussed raising the substitute teacher
pay. The board voted to increase the pay to $120 per day and $65 for a
half day.

The
board also voted to amend the JPA budget because they had not scheduled any
payments when the plan was made as they were not sure that a project would
happen this year. Not that the project is in place and a payment is
scheduled, the budget must be amended.

The
board set the next meeting for Monday, June 15 at 8 p.m. in Milligan.

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Exeter-Milligan State Champions

VOLLEYBALL2009 - State Champions

2010 - State Champions

2011 - Runner Up at State Tournament

2012 - State Champions

2014 - Third place at State Tournament

2015 - State Champions

2016 - Third place at State Tournament

2017- State ChampionsFOOTBALL2012 - Runner Up at State2013 - State Champions2014 - State ChampionsBOYS BASKETBALL2015 - State ChampionsGIRLS BASKETBALLSOFTBALLTRACK2017 - Boys Third Place at State Track

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How do you get police help in Exeter? First call the Exeter Village Marshal Line. Listen to the message. It tells you. . . You have reached the Exeter Village Marshal's office and are unable to take your call at this time. If you have an EMERGENCY - hang up and DIAL 911 or call the Fillmore County Sheriff's Department at 402-759-4441. If you are looking for the Exeter Village Clerk, that number is 402-266-3051 or you can leave a message and the next available marshal will get back to you. ******Please DO call 911 if it is an emergency. If you have a loose dog caught you can call the Village Office to see if someone is available to take care of it********

Tin Cans: These are most of the canned goods on your pantry shelves. Preparations: Rinse, labels can be left on. Flatten gallon or large cans .

#2 Plastic (HDPE) This is a harder colored or white plastic is not clear. Examples: milk and water jugs, laundry detergents, shampoo, coffee, some yogurt, margarine & cottage cheese containers. Check the bottom number to be sure Preparations: rinse and discard lids, crush large containers

#1 Plastic (PETE) All plastic bottles that contain liquids consumed by humans are packaged in clear or colored # 1 PETE plastic bottles. Some other food such as catsup and salad dressing may also be this type but you must check the bottom number to be sure. Examples: pop, cranberry juice, sports drinks, liquor Preparations: rinse and discard lids

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